Loss of Dumervil Almost Impossible to Overcome

Maybe the Broncos should just end camp now. They have been the team hit the hardest with injuries so far this camp, first with losing a pair of running backs (they did sign LenDale White Thursday to help out there), and they end got word they have lost leading pass rush Elvis Dumervil with a torn pec, probably for the season.

Pro Football Weekly says while the hurts to RB’s Knowshon Morena and Correll Buckhalter are bad, losing Dumervil is maybe the worst news the team could get at this early stage of training camp.

Injuries to RBs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter were only preliminary bumps in the road compared to the news of OLB Elvis Dumervil’s torn pectoral muscle, which is a potentially devastating development for the Broncos, and while Moreno and Buckhalter are expected back well before Week One, Dumervil’s injury could keep him out for most, if not all, of the season.

Dumervil, who led the league in sacks last season with a team-record 17, was said to be seeking a second opinion after suffering the injury in a one-on-one pass-rush drill Aug. 4, but it doesn’t look promising, the injury usually requires surgery to be repaired, and word is he’ll be out until November, at the earliest.

Denver rewarded the Pro Bowler with a six-year deal that included $43.156 million guaranteed about two weeks before he sustained the injury. With Dumervil sidelined, Denver could open the season with Jarvis Moss and Robert Ayers, who have a combined two starts and 3½ sacks – all of the latter by Moss – in their careers, starting at outside ‘backer.

Head coach Josh McDaniels doesn’t have many good options for replacing Dumervil, but he could also consider moving Mario Haggan, who played opposite Dumervil at outside ‘backer last season, back to the position after shifting him to inside ‘backer this offseason, but McDaniels will have to decide whether to clear a roster spot by putting Dumervil on injured reserve, which would officially end his season.